Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania or depression. These episodes typically last two or more weeks at a time; however, some patients experience rapid mood shifts. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe and can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. There is a strong genetic link within families regarding bipolar disorder, and there are specific risks to an individual if a parent has this disorder.
Increased Risk of Bipolar Disorder
The offspring of individuals with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk of having bipolar disorder as compared to the general population. According to the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, when one parent has bipolar disorder, the risk that his child will have bipolar disorder is 15 to 30 percent, and this risk increases substantially to 50 to 75 percent if both parents have the disorder.
Increased Risk for other Mental Disorders
Research conducted and presented by Andrew A. Nierenberg, M.D., medical director of Bipolar Programs at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, showed that children of parents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for a broad range of mood and other psychiatric disorders. It was found that children of parents with bipolar disorder were more than 4 times more likely to experience depression, 9.24 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, 6.18 times more likely to have experienced separation anxiety, and 8.93 times more likely to have had oppositional-defiant disorder.
Bipolar Medication Risk During Pregnancy
Mood stabilizers used for the treatment of bipolar disorder may pose risks to a fetus and may result in birth defects for the child. Research published in the "Psychiatric News" in 2008 indicates that many mood-stabilizing medications do pose risks of birth defects. Lithium and divalproex are both pregnancy category D drugs, according to the FDA's classification, as both carry risks of causing congenital abnormalities such as neural tube and cardiovascular defects. These risks must be weighed against the risk of relapse during pregnancy; however, it is critical for patients to be aware of the risks to the fetus that mood stabilizers pose.
